Improvement in railroad-switches



UNITED STATES,

PATENT OE IoE.

BOURGIN PIERRE, or OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN RAILROAD-SWITCHES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No; 1 53,373, dated July21, 1874; application filed May 26, 1874.

- To all whom it may concern:

appertains to make and use my said invention without further inventionor experiment.

My invention relates to an improved device for operatingrailway-switches; and it consists in a novel combination of levers,which are operated by an arm projecting from the approaching car, so asto insure its passing upon the right track.

Referring to the accompanying drawings for a more complete explanationof my invention, Figure l is a perspective view of my improved switch.

A A are the throw-rails of a line of track, and B B are the main orfixed rails. Between the rails are placed the levers and theconnecting-rods for operating them. The throw-rails are operated by alever, G, which turns about a central pivot, D. Frictionrollers e e arefixed in the ends of this lever, anzl when the lever is curved one endwill op erate to force the rails over to one side, and the other end tothe other side.

In order to operate this lever by the approach ing train, aconnecting-rod, F, extends to a point at some distance from the switch,and is attached to a lever, G, which also lies between the rails and ispivoted at its center. One end of this lever is sutficiently high abovethe ground to be struck by the arm H, which is secured to some part ofthe approaching train. This operates to throw the rails A over and thusmake the desired connection at the tracks B B. The arm H may be elevatedor turned to one side-so as not to strike the lever, being hinged, asshown at N, and operated by the lever 0 upon the car, or in any othersuitable manner.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

The double lever 0, having an axis, 1), and united by connecting-rods Fto the levers G, in combination with the adjustable arm H upon thetrain, the whole constructed to operate substantially as and for thepurpose described.

In WiilDGSS whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal.

BOURGIN PIERRE. Witnesses:

JNo. L. 130mm, 0. M. RIoHARDsoN.

